April 27, 2009

HuffPo gets in on what has long been a big topic here at Althouse. (Click the "men in shorts" tag below. And read what I said in the comments here about the guy seated next to me on the airplane yesterday.)

Here you see our President dressed for golf the way PGA Tour members are forbidden to dress. (Can you even picture Tiger Woods in shorts? No. And you're not supposed to.)

Come on! You're not a little kid! In fact, you are the President of the United States. Presidents golf in long pants!

IN THE COMMENTS: John Stodder says:

The reason I disagree with Ann on shorts on men is that I don't think it is a man's job to look attractive all the time, especially when engaged in leisure pursuits. Women do need to try harder in this area than men, and that might be unfair, but it won't do to try to apply the same attractiveness-at-all-times standard to both sexes.

The president, however, is never engaged in leisure pursuits, even when he is taking a break, so long as there is a camera anywhere nearby. So he does have a higher standard to reach. Higher yet because he's an avowed metrosexual.

But above all, if you wear shorts, you should not be nervously pulling at the seam to enclose it around the thigh as Obama seems to be doing. If there is any danger of your shorts exposing your beet salad to the world, they're either too short or too loose.

The reason I disagree with Ann on shorts on men is that I don't think it is a man's job to look attractive all the time, especially when engaged in leisure pursuits. Women do need to try harder in this area than men, and that might be unfair, but it won't do to try to apply the same attractiveness-at-all-times standard to both sexes.

The president, however, is never engaged in leisure pursuits, even when he is taking a break, so long as there is a camera anywhere nearby. So he does have a higher standard to reach. Higher yet because he's an avowed metrosexual.

But above all, if you wear shorts, you should not be nervously pulling at the seam to enclose it around the thigh as Obama seems to be doing. If there is any danger of your shorts exposing your beet salad to the world, they're either too short or too loose.

How can this man live with himself, while some dozens of his country's citizens deal with achy joints and low grade nausea as a result of one of the most-hyped non-pandemics of the last 100 years. Disgusting.

I confess, when Tiger Woods appeared on the scene I wished he golfed naked, or briefly dressed. Not from prurient reasons, no, not I, but from wanting to see all the grace in action unencumbered, uncovered.

Do you have any idea how hot it was in this area on Sunday? I'm much more interested in whether Obama takes mulligans than in whether he wears shorts.

He is giving up his sexuality, right? Does this make him less of a pussy?One thing I haven't quite figured out yet. On one hand [internationally] he is a weak and naive empty suit who bows down to our enemies. On the other hand [domestically] he is a well oiled and well funded fascist tyrant who has an army of ACORN militant activists (Negrofascism anyone?) just waiting for the word to throw uniforms on all of us.

All joking aside, I don't support his policies for the most part, but I will never begrudge a man - particularly the president - an occasional game of golf, and I CERTAINLY won't begrudge him the simple pleasures of the little extra June room and improved ventilation to the nether regions a pair of shorts provides.

I love to golf, Palladian. I stink at it, but every once in a while, I hit a great drive or make a great chip shot/putt...and I think "I coulda been a pro golfer!". LOL. It's those moments of "greatness" and being outside on a beautiful course that keep me chasing the golf ball.

If for no other reason, he should wear that cap all the time just to annoy the First Lady. Why let her always dictate how he dresses? He's the President of the United States. He should pick out his own cap and shorts.

He should wear that cap until she asks him, "Barack... honey... do you ever not wear that stupid cap of yours?"

I didn't think it was possible to reach an even lower point of discussion, but this one really takes the prize.

Coment after comment about whether Obama should be wearing shorts (childish, choice of haberdashery?), whether he should be walking, does he shave his legs, he must be a pussy (because he plays golf?), he looks 13, he's an avowed (metrosexual...as if men who care how they look are somehow out of the mainstream?), is he wearing a flag pin...

This reminds me of the cranky old judge in federal court I frequently appear in front of who still bemoans the fact that female attorneys wearing pants. The old dude just can't stand seeing women in pants!

Seems like a silly thing to obsess about -- and yet here I am responding (Ah the vortex!)

A quick Google search confirms that Tiger Woods does in fact wear shorts when he is out on the course practicing -- see http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940CE5D91E3FF931A3575BC0A9639C8B63.

True, PGA rules don't allow golfers to wear shorts during tournaments, but then Obama's not on the tour.

Interesting side note, if I recall I think that a few years ago Tiger's caddy wanted to wear shorts (which was against the rules then) and Tiger said "if my caddy can't wear shorts, I won't play in the PGA." Not surprisingly, the PGA gave it.

He can wear and do whatever he wants, wherever he wants, and look however he wants. I was pointing out the hypocrisy and the double standard. If this had been anyone else, including perhaps even another democrat, he/she wouldn't have gotten a pass, and the screaming would have no end.

And it's not the clothes, it's him. He doesn't look in them. That's all.

Palladian, like Darcy, I am also a sucky golfer. But there's a golf course behind my house, sort of, and it's a great way to spend an hour or three out in the sun, occasionally (very occasionally) making a great shot that you can be proud of. I also play golf with my son. That's almost always enjoyable.

There was a story of a female golfer who went into the pro shop complaining she had been stung by a bee. The pro asked "where did it happen?" She replied, "between the first and second hole." He said, "well your stance is too wide."

"Palladian, like Darcy, I am also a sucky golfer. But there's a golf course behind my house, sort of, and it's a great way to spend an hour or three out in the sun, occasionally (very occasionally) making a great shot that you can be proud of. I also play golf with my son. That's almost always enjoyable."

Hmm. I just never understood it, is all. It seems too expensive and fussy. But I'm not a sports person; I'd rather stroll around in a natural field or meadow. To each his own.

I wonder if the term Mason-Dixon Line came from the Golf attire required at the Mason Golf and Country Club, being long pants, while to the South the attire at the Dixon Golf and Country Club permitted shorts (except not Denim). This went largely unnoticed since we aristocratic Southern Men never let the Females into our Clubs. So give Obama a break, he is not a female. Just Kidding Professor. The pleasure of Golfing comes from the smell and feel one gets from teeing off at a new mown golf course at 8:00 AM when the temperature is still only 65f. The next five hours you spend hitting and chasing a golf ball, will clear your mind like a three day trip out of town. And there is also a genuine getting to know a former stranger you may play with over 18 holes of growing fellowship and sharing that man's reactions to situations of success and failure, which will continually happen for each of the foursome of players.The result is instant therapy, plus the wife gets to have her free time too, and she knows that you probably can't get into any trouble.

"C'mon...kids...even YOU can come up with something better than this."

Jeremy: Mommy, mommy, the mean kids are picking on the Black man wearing shorts. Please mommy make them stop. It is Un-AMerican, un-patriotic, disgusting, and despicable mommy. Please make them stop!!!

Mommy:Poor Jemey, your heart bleeds for everything. Just go to your room, get on your knees and pray to our savior, Barak Obama. He will save you. You have accepted him in to your heart as your true savior. He will see you through this. Oh, and young man, take off those shorts. Grown adult men do not wear shorts. Shorts are for children and pussies.

Let explain it to you in way to make golf attractive to you Palladian. You use your long shaft to drive it as far and as hard as you can. Sometime it's in the rough and you occasionaly have to chip. And you get to wash your balls at every hole. So to speak.

And I bow to no one in being the worst golfer at Althouse. I won the worst golfer five years in a row in the O'Reilly's Pub annual golf and drinking festival. The cool thing is you always won a cool prize. A tennis racket. A radio. Flippers and a snorkle.And best of all a bottle of Johnny Walker.

I live in Houston, and I play golf in the summer months. Screw anyone who thinks I am wearing long pants in in the Houston summer heat. I don't care if my pasty hairy legs make you vomit. I am gonna be comfortable beotch

As soon as the tempurature reached 50 degrees Don was outside in an undersized pair of shorts, old loafers and no shirt. His body looked like it had been through a war. It was not all that attractive to say the least.

We eventually learned he had 8 rows of ribbons on his Army uniform, and jump wings, and a Ranger tab, Bronze Star, Purple Heart (times 3) and on his mantle was a Green Beret.

In his case, he damned well earned the right to wear whatever he choose.

Meade said..."There was a story of a male golfer named Jeremy who went into the pro shop complaining that a biting gopher had ruined his game. The pro asked "where did it happen?" He replied, "right on my ball." The pro said, "well you shouldn't be wearing those stupid shorts."

"*And what doe the "snow" pussy thing even mean? The man lived in Chicago...no snow?"

Jeremy,Ask Althouse.

We all know you never, ever read Althouse’s posts. You just go right to the comment section and drop your excrement bombs and Un-American, un-patriotic, disgusting and despicable diatribes. Oh, and I read exactly what you meant. Too late trying to cover yourself or deny your true feelings; again.

One good reason for a golf tradition of wearing long pants (only when the temp is under 85 or so) is that when your ball is out of bounds you often have to trudge thru a briar-patch with poison ivey highlights. Not that there is anything wrong with that. The explorer in the group often comes back with several more balls than he went to look for.

Bowling was a sport one engaged in when the weather was too crappy to do anything else. Golf was a sport one took up when one's body was too creaky to play anything else....Nothing against shorts, but Obama really does look skinny and vulnerable in shorts. The President should never look vulnerable.

The reason I disagree with Ann on shorts on men is that I don't think it is a man's job to look attractive all the time, especially when engaged in leisure pursuits. Women do need to try harder in this area than men, and that might be unfair, but it won't do to try to apply the same attractiveness-at-all-times standard to both sexes. But that just raises the question: should this be the rule? It's descriptively accurate. But the post is already talking about what the rule should be, not what it is. Clearly the actual rule is that men go ahead and wear shorts, and men feel less of a burden to be attractive. You already say this is unfair; if it's unfair, why don't you reject the rule?

"NO ONE HAS YET EXPLAINED THE APPEAL OF GOLF. THERE IS A REASON FOR THIS I SUSPECT."

Palladian, just take your walk in the park, and add an attractive woman periodically driving up in a golf cart and offering you alcohol. Clubs are entirely optional.

However, people who get up at 5 AM on a weekday to get in a round before work are clearly insane.

And I am entirely pro-shorts. I wouldn't wear shorts to work, but I make no apologies for subjecting the neighbourhood to the sight of my knees while mowing my lawn. And let's face it, most women do not look particualry fabulous in shorts, skirts or open-toed shoes.

By that he-woman Michelle. She's probably a sadist and enjoys ripping the wax strips off his girly legs.

I don't begrudge anyone shorts. It was freakin' 90 degrees out Sunday.

I'm overweight and I wear clingy shorts and tank tops in public. Not as a fashion statement--it's necessary for sculling. Loose shorts get caught in the tracks of the sliding seat; loose shirts cause chafing. So I sin against the fashion gods constantly.

There's nothing wrong with wearing shorts and who said grown men can't wear shorts? We have the freedom to wear what we want to wear. There is no restriction of wearing shorts even you are the President, right?If you want to learn more about the latest fashion in golf just visit: Golf Apparel.